9 Inmates Hurt in Latest L.A. Jail Riot

LOS ANGELES – The latest outbreak of racially charged rioting at a Southern California jail sent eight inmates to the hospital Saturday with minor injuries, officials said. A ninth inmate was treated at the scene.

The fight erupted at a housing dorm where 86 black and Hispanic inmates were separated by race, sheriff's spokesman Deputy Luis Castro said. Guards fired sting balls at the inmates to break up the riot. No deputies were hurt.

Dozens of inmates have been injured and one killed since clashes between Hispanic and black inmates began Feb. 4 at the Pitchess Detention Center in Castaic, about 40 miles outside Los Angeles.

Small brawls followed throughout the week, including a Friday fight among 73 inmates that took an hour to quell.

The latest rioting took place despite a lockdown of all 19,000 inmates in the Los Angeles County jail system.